Tool setting gauge



JulysL 1945. I. A` T ',ANES,JR n 2,380,593 y l TQOL SETTING GAUGE FiledJan. '6, 1944 j INVENTOR.l Allen [Hanes Jr.-

Anp/mers BVM aitented July 31, 1945 TOOL SETTING GAUGE 7 Claims.

My present invention relates to tool setting gauges. It has to do, moreparticularly, with an improved gauge for adjusting and properly settingthe cutting tools or lathes and similar machines.

Heretofore, gauges for setting cutting tools have been of relativelycomplicated nature, costly to manufacture, and in use, required theServices of a skilled workman or mechanic to set the tools to properlyeffect or perform the cutting operation desired.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved gauge ofthe foregoing character which is of relatively simple construction andwhich is extremely easy to handle in determining or gauging the desiredand proper setting of the cutting tool or tools. Y

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved tool settinggauge having separate and independent means for determining first therough setting of the cutting tool or tools in accordance with the size,shape, or thickness o the workpiecey and then for determining the fineror more accurate setting or adjustment of the cutting tool or tools.

A further object of my invention is to provide a gauge of the foregoingcharacter in which the gauge is provided with releasable means forlocking or maintaining the proper adjustment of the gauge for repeateduse in gauging cutting tools wherein all of the tools require the samedegree of adjustment or setting.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved tool settinggauge wherein the independent means for determining the ner and accuratesetting of the cutting tool or tools is bodily adjustable lengthwisewith relation to a portion of the supporting body portion or frame ofthe gauge.

The foregoing and other objects and advan tages of my invention will beapparent from the following description and appended claims whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification, wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawing:

Figure l isv a perspective view of an improved cutting tool gaugeembodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View illustrating one application or use of theimproved tool gauge of my invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a. fragment of one type of lathe or othermachine having adjustable cutters or tools which may be gauged and setby the use of my improved tool gauge.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. It

is to be understofi'. also that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and itis not intended to limit the invention herein claimed beyond therequirements of the prior art.

Referring particularly to Figures l, 2, 3 and i of the drawing, there isshown in this iigure one preferred form of tool gauge embodying mypresent invention. As shown, the gauge comprises a substantiallyL-shaped frame or body member having right angularly disposed portionsid and il. The inner edge of the portion il is provided with anadjustable bolt or gauge member shown as a whole at i2 which is threadedinto a threaded opening extending transversely through the member ii andwhich is provided with a lock nut or securing means i3 to maintain themember i2 in its desired position of adjustment. The gauge member I2 isadapted to be set in accordance with the rough thickness Oi the stock tobe operated upon by the cutting tool or tools.

As seen in Figures l and 2, the rough adjustment gauge member i2 mayhave, if desired, a screw slot l2a formed in the head thereof t0 permitof its adjustment with relationto the supe porting frame portion Il. Or,if desired, the shank thereof. adjacent the head may be provided with asquare or hexagonal cross section iZb to receive a wrench for adjustmentpurposes.

The frame portion li is provided on one of its broad faces or surfaceswith a longitudinally adjustable plate or block member it having slotsl5 formed therein with which adjustment screws or bolts I6 cooperate topermit the block to be moved longitudinally over the frame portion iiand to be secured in any desired position with relation thereto. Asshown, the block I4 is provided with an integral enlargement which formsa tool-engaging cutting depth gauge member, shown as a whole at il. Thismember, as shown, is provided with a hollow body portion housing orcasing i5 having an elongated longitudinally extending slot i5 formedtherein and with a tool-engaging plunger or member 2U supported thereinand urged into projected positon `by means of a coil spring 2i which islocated Within the hollow body portion I8 and held in place by aremovable cap or cover member 22. It will be noted that the forward endof the plunger 20 is provided with a notched out portion 20a to providea fiat face on which a centering line or mark Zlib is located. Thispermits the notched end 29a of the plunger to be accurately aligned withthe tip of the cutting too1 whose adjustment is to be gauged. As seen inFigures 1, 2 and 4, the body portion IB is provided with a graduatedscale 23 located opposite the slot i9. The plunger 20 carries anindicating linger 2li which projects outwardly through the slot I9 andoverlies the graduations of scale 23. It will be understood that as theplunger 2D is moved, the indicator 24 will likewise move and willregister with one of the graduations of the groove 23 to indicate theposition of the cutting tool with which the plunger is engaged and topermit the proper adjustment or setting oi said tool.

If it is desired to maintain the plunger 2i? in any one o1" its desiredadjusted positions, it is merely necessary to rotate the set screw Z5carried by the body portion I8 until the end of the screw engages theplunger. Thus, the tool gauge may be used over and over again at a givenadjustment and with a plurality of tools which are to be set to a minuteadjustment to ensure the proper depth out which is desired.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, there is shown one type of machineand cutting tool with which' the gauge of my invention may be used. Themachine is shown as a whole at 26 and is provided on its bed with aseries of cutting tool supporting blocks 2l '.'each of which is providedwith a. cutting tool 28. These tools are adapted to be moved intoposition to successively engage and cut the work piece 29 which isrotatably supported by the head stock and tail stock of the machine orlathe 26,

It will be understood that the combined plate or block member ifi andthe gauge member il may be supported on either of the broad faces of theportion I l of the support or body of the gauge. To permit this, theportion H of the frame is drilled through from one face to the other toreceive the adjustment screws or bolts IG so that this member may beapplied to either face of the portion ii, thus producing either aleft-hand tool gauge or a right-hand tool gauge, as desired.

In use, the adjustable rough gauge member i2 is rst set in accordancewith the rough thickness of the stock to be engaged by the cutting tool,the lock nut i3 adjusted to hold the member l2 in place, whereby the legmember or portion iii of the gauge is placed iiatwise against the edge Aof a cutting tool supporting block 2l with the inner face of the memberi2 in engagement with the face B of said block. The bolts Z'la are nowreleased to free the cutting tool 28 and to permit its tip to engage thenotched end 2Go-oi the ne adjustment gauge member in line with the mark2do on said member. By moving the tool 2B and, because of its engagementwiththe plunger 25J, likewise the plunger, until the indicating ngei'2li registers with the proper graduation of the scale 23, the tool 2tmay be set to its proper cutting position. When this adjustment has beenachieved, the bolts Elia are tightened down and tabl 28 is in its properposition for operation assasaa upon the workpiece. The gauge is thenremoved from engagement with' the tool block and cutting too1 and theoperation may be again repeated to adjust other tools for the samesetting or for a wide variety of settings, if desired. Once theadjustment has been obtained, if other tools are to be likewise set, thesetscrew 25 may be moved into engagement with the plunger 20 and thecontinued gauging of cutting tools, carried out.

My device is of relatively simple construction, easy to use and handleand one which may be successfully used by unskilled workmen.

While I have shown the ne adjustment gauge member il as being ofsubstantially square cross section, it will be understood that ifdesired this member may 'be tubular. Moreover, while I have shown aplunger 2U of round cross section, this member may be of any desiredshape or cross section.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim is:

1. A gauge for setting cutting tools comprising a substantially L-shapedframe a portion of which is adapted to be engaged with an edge face or acutting tool carrying block, adjustable means carried by another portionof said frame for engagement with another edge face of the block, andmovable means comprising a housing portion carrcd by said last-namedframe portion and a spring-projected plunger within said housing portionfor engagement with the tip of a cut-- ting too1 carried by said blockto indicate the correct setting of the tool with relation to work to beengaged and operated'upon by it.

24 A gauge according' to claim l wherein said housing portion andspringeprojected plunger are adjustable lengthwise of said lastenamedframe portion.

3. A gauge for setting cutting tools comprising a substantially lshapedframe a portion of which is adapted to be engaged with an edge face of acutting tool carrying block, adjustable means carried by another portionof said frame for engagement with another edge face of the block,movable means comprising a hollow body portion carried by saidlast-named frame portion having a longitudinal slot in one wall thereofand a graduated scale adjacent said slot. a spring-projecteci plungerwithin the body portion for engagement with the tip of a cutting tool,and a pointer carried by the plunger projecting through said slot andcooperating with said graduations for indi-- eating the setting of saidcutting tool.

e. A gauge according to claim l wherein said adjustable means isprovided for determining the rough adjustment of the cutting tool andwhere=I in said movable means is provided for determin ing the fine andaccurate adjustment of said cut ting tool relative to a workpiece.

5. A gauge according to claim l wherein means is associated with saidhousing portion and said spring-projected plunger for releasablymaintain ing said plunger in any desired adjusted posi tion.

6. A gauge for setting cutting tools according to claim l wherein saidmovable means may be mounted on either face of said last-named frameportion whereby to provide either a lelt hand or a right hand gauge.

7. A gauge according to claim l wherein said frame comprises a pair ofright angularly dieu posed portions.

